Baroque Era
Kirchheimbolanden: 1600 to 1750
Prince Carl August chose the palace, which included a garden, as his residence – that was in the 1730s, when Kirchheim-Poland – as the town was then called – belonged to Nassau-Weilburg. The princely decision to relocate the residence of the principality, which comprised 35,000 subjects (20,000 of whom were along the middle Lahn), to the left bank of the Rhine, led to an extensive Baroque expansion of the town. However, this only superimposed itself on the previously medieval urban character in the eastern and northern sections of the city walls.
For it was here that the court area, five times larger in scope than the medieval town area, was established. Kirchheimbolanden thus became a ‘Small Residence’.
In Kirchheimbolanden, courtly culture can thus be experienced in one of the approximately 800 residence cities that existed in Germany in the 18th century.
Outlying Tower
Outlying TowerCity of Kirchheimbolanden The city charter that Count Henry II of Sponheim (reigned 1350-1393) received for his village Kirchheim from Emperor Charles IV in 1368 was significant in several ways: with the right to fortify, it offered protection and...
Römerplatz
Protestant St. Peter’s Church
Town Hall Tower
Rotenkirchner Gate
Rotenkirchner Gate Rothenkirchen Monastery The Rothenkirchen Monastery, founded by Werner II von Bolanden (1118 – approx. 1190) and his wife Guda (HANC DOMVM FECERVNT WERNER ET GVDA) around 1160, is located an hour (3 km) north of the "Rothenkircher Gate". Of the...
City Palace Museum
Dr.-Lothar-Siessl-Platz
“Drey Kronen”
Hofschänke
Münzhof
MünzhofOld Town Charm In Kirchheimbolanden, 10 breweries and around 30 inns were documented for the 18th and 19th centuries. Only very few have been preserved. However, new ones were also opened in the 20th century. An example is the 'Hofschänke'. Its charming...
Princely Court Pharmacy
Liebfrauenkirche
Holländerhaus
Princely Chief Hunting Office
Princely Barracks / Royal District Court
Ballroom
BallroomPrincely Entertainment During the Baroque period, ballrooms mostly existed only in large residences, such as in Versailles or Vienna. They were venues for Jeu de Paume, which emerged in the mid-15th century as the precursor to tennis, and were also used for...
Administrative Office
Administrative Office"Good Order" The 18th century was a time of "growth of state power." This led to a constant expansion of the administrative system. For, as was said at the time: The prince should promote the best interests of his state with all his might –...
Obere Amtsstraße
Lower Amtsstraße
Lower AmtsstraßeHeritage Zone The Amtsstraße – known as Printzen-Gaß in the 18th century – was laid out in the mid-18th century, presumably planned by Julius Ludwig Rothweil, as the main axis of the Upper Suburb. The houses, often characterized by archways and access...
Protestant Paulskirche
Palace Square
Palace Square Minor Residence Baroque residential towns were characterized by an extensive court complex. The palace was the focal point, as the prince saw himself as the center of his state. Therefore, additional functional buildings were added to his court,...
Residential Palace
Residential PalaceKirchheimbolanden Residential Palace A three-winged palace complex with an open courtyard facing the town was planned for Kirchheimbolanden. However, only the 55-meter long eastern (right) side wing and the eastern (right) part of the central wing...
Terrace Garden
Husarenhof
Chief Cellarer’s Office
Chief Cellarer's Office37.1 Medieval-Early Modern Administrative Apparatus The Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period were an era of administrative expansion and consolidation. In Kirchheimbolanden, too, the bailiffs, clerks, and cellarers personified this...
Orangery
OrangeryBaroque Garden Culture Baroque garden culture is manifested not only in palace gardens, but also in orangeries and kitchen gardens. Orangeries served not only for overwintering outdoor plants. They also had a courtly function, as one could stroll here in...
Cavalier Houses
Liebfrauenstraße
Liebfrauenstraße The Long Road to the 'Interdenominational School' In the 18th century, cities with multiple denominations also had several elementary schools. In Kirchheimbolanden, these included Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic schools, plus a Jewish one. The...
